Warning that custody overcrowding is 'jeopardising safety'

The Law Institute of Victoria is warning overcrowding in custody is jeopardising the safety of police, prison guards and prisoners.

The institute says the system is at "breaking point" and a serious incident is imminent.

The issue has also been raised by Victoria's Deputy Chief Magistrate, Jelena Popovic, who told a court overcrowding will be a consideration in a bail application.

The Law Institute's Sam Norton says the organisation has written to the Attorney-General, but received no response.

"It's a great concern that these things are allowed to go on without any reaction from the AG (Attorney-general)," he said.

"It's a great concern that we've gotten to this position in the first place. This is not something that just happened overnight. This is something that everyone saw coming. And it's going to get worse before it gets better."

The Police Association prison overcrowding has been out of control for years.

Police Association secretary, Greg Davies, says short-term police holding rooms are being used as remand cells because there is nowhere else to put prisoners.

"Rooms that were designed for a couple of hours for someone to sit and wait are basically being used as a jail cell for two or three days," he said.

"I will never understand why the police force continue to say just keep sending them to us, the mental health problems, family violence prevention problems, the ambulance problems.

"Whenever anyone else has a shortfall or a system that doesn't work, people just say give them to the police, they'll make it work. Well they can't keep making it work."